Name: BRIAN HICKOX Age: 28 Residence: WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS Occupation: 8TH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER Years involved with Iditarod: SINCE SEPTEMBER OF ‘17 Iditarod Role: I’M THE 2019 IDITAROD TEACHER ON THE TRAIL. SO WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING IS DEVELOPING IDITAROD-BASED CURRICULUM FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO USE. AND I’VE BEEN POSTING ON THE IDITAROD EDUCATION WEBSITE. Current Location: TAKOTNA, ALASKA Date of Photo: MARCH 7, 2019 Temperature: 25F / OUTDOORS

I’M HERE PRIMARILY BECAUSE, AS AN EDUCATOR, IT’S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO FIND CURRICULUM AND CONTENT THAT WILL ENGAGE THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASS ROOM. AND THERE’S NOT TOO MANY THINGS THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS AT ALL DIFFERENT AGE LEVELS AND ALL DIFFERENT CONTENTS, AND THE IDITAROD IS ONE OF THOSE. AND AS SOMEONE WHO LOVES THE IDITAROD, I SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE TEACHER ON THE TRAIL. SO AFTER MY APPLICATION PROCESS AND BEING SELECTED, HERE I AM RIGHT NOW. AND I’M VERY FORTUNATE TO BE IN THIS POSITION.

THERE’S SO MANY OF THEM. THE SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL. I THINK A GENERAL STATEMENT HAS BEEN, GETTING TO KNOW THE MUSHERS AND THEIR BACKGROUNDS AND THEIR STORIES. AND HEARING A LOT OF WHAT INSPIRED EACH MUSHER. EVERY MUSHER HAS THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL STORY AND REASON FOR RACING. AND IT’S ALMOST HUMBLING TO LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES AND HAVE THEM SHARE WITH ME BECAUSE I CAN TAKE THEIR STORIES AND BRING THOSE TO THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. AND EVERYONE CAN LEARN FROM THEM.

I KNOW THAT THERE’S HOPE FOR HUMANITY AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE OVERALL INHERENTLY GOOD. AND THE PEOPLE WHO I’VE MET THROUGH IDITAROD, THE MUSHERS, BUT ESPECIALLY THE VOLUNTEERS AND ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE IN THE SMALL VILLAGES ALONG THE RACE ROUTE, ARE UNBELIEVABLE PEOPLE. AND THEY’RE INCREDIBLY WELCOMING AND REALLY WILL PUT OTHERS BEFORE THEM. AND THOSE ARE GREAT ATTRIBUTES AND QUALITIES TO HAVE. AND IT’S A POSITIVE THING TO SEE BECAUSE IT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT THERE’S GOOD IN THIS WORLD.